New York

3 October 2012

Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the deaths of Turkish civilians near the Syrian border

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest concern at the incident which has reportedly killed at least six Turkish civilians and gravely wounded others in the town of Akcakale near the Syrian border.

The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences to the Government and people of Turkey over this tragic loss of life.

The Secretary-General has repeatedly warned that the ongoing militarization of the conflict in Syria is leading to tragic results for the Syrian people. Today’s incidents, where firing from Syria struck a Turkish town, again demonstrated how Syria’s conflict is threatening not only the security of the Syrian people but increasingly causing harm to its neighbours.

The Secretary-General calls on the Syria Government to respect fully the territorial integrity of its neighbours as well as to end the violence against the Syrian people. He calls on all parties to reduce tensions and to forge a path toward a peaceful resolution of the Syria crisis.